The joint resolution, as passed by the Senate, reads as follows: Joint resolution proposing an amendment to Sec. 1 of Article VII. of the Constitution, in relation to the qualifications of electors. Resolved, By the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That at the election when the amended Constitution shall be submitted to the electors of this State for adoption or rejection, there shall be submitted to such electors the following propositions, to be substituted in case of adoption, for so much of Sec. 1 of Art. VII. as precedes the proviso therein, in the present Constitution of this State as it now stands, and substituted for Sec. 1, Art. VII., in said amended Constitution, if the latter is adopted, to wit: SECTION 1. In all elections, every person of the age of twenty-one years who shall have resided in this State three months, and in the township or ward in which he or she offers to vote ten days next preceding an election, belonging to either of the following classes, shall be an elector and entitled to vote: First-Every citizen of the United States; Second-Every inhabitant of this State who shall have resided in the United States two years and six months, and declared his or her intention to become a citizen of the United States, pursuant to the laws thereof, six months preceding an election; Third-Every inhabitant residing in this State on the twenty-fourth day of June, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-five. Said proposition shall be separately submitted to the electors of this State, for their adoption or rejection, in form following, to wit: A separate ballot may be given by every person having the right to vote, to be deposited in a separate box. Upon the ballots given for said proposition shall be written or printed, or partly written and partly printed, the words "Woman suffrage,-Yes;" and upon the ballots given against the adoption thereof, in like manner, the words "Woman suffrage,-No." If, at said election, a majority of the votes given upon said proposition shall contain the words "Woman Suffrage-Yes," then said proposition shall be substituted for so much of Sec. 1 of Article VII. as precedes the proviso therein in the present Constitution of this State as it now stands, or substituted for Sec. 1 of Article VII. in said amended Constitution, if the latter is adopted. UNFINISHED BUSINESS, Being the consideration of Article XI., as reported back by the joint committee on railroads of the two Houses with amendments thereto. And the question pending at the time the Senate adjourned last night, being on a substitute offered by Mr. DeLand, for an amendment offered by Mr. Dewey to Section 1, Which substitute is as follows: To add to Section 1 the words, "the Legislature shall pass no law altering or amending any special charter or act of incorporation (other than municipal) without the assent of two-thirds of the members elected to each House. No such act shall be renewed or extended, nor shall their corporate powers be increased or enlarged." Pending which, Mr. Dewey called for the yeas and nays. The substitute was agreed to, by yeas and nays, as follows: The question recurring on the adoption of the amendment as amended by the adoption of the substitute, Mr. Dewey called for the yeas and nays. The same was adopted, by yeas and nays, as follows: Mr. Richardson moved to further amend Art. XI. by incorporating into the article a new section, to stand as Sec. 19, to read as follows: SEC. 19. The exercise of the right of eminent domain shall never be abridged or so construed as to prevent the legislature from taking the property and franchises of incorporated companies, and subjecting them to public use the same as the property of individuals; and the exercise of the police power of the State shall never be abridged or so construed as to permit corporations to conduct their business in such manner as to infringe the equal rights of individuals, or the general well-being of the State. Mr. Richardson called for the yeas and nays. The amendment was agreed to, by yeas and nays, as follows: Mr. Hewitt moved to further amend Art. XI. by adding to Sec. 9. the following: "Provided, however, that all lands purchased by manufacturing corporations prior to January 1, A. D. 1874, are hereby confirmed to said corporations for a period of ten years next succeeding the adoption of this Constitution." Mr. Curry called for the yeas and nays. The amendment was agreed to, by yeas and nays, as follows: Mellen, Richardson, Mr. Cook, Mr. Hewitt, Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Wilber, Mr. Cook moved to reconsider the vote by which the Senate refused, yesterday, to add to the amendments, reported by the joint committee on railroads, a new section to read as follows: SEC. 13. No railroad, railway, or other transportation company incorporated under the laws of this State, or doing business therein, shall issue free passes or passes at a discount to any State officer, judge of a court of record, or member of the legislature; but this restriction shall not apply to excursion or commutation tickets, when issued at special rates. Mr. Gray called for the yeas and nays: The motion to reconsider did not prevail, by yeas and nays, as follows: Mr. DeLand offered the following to stand as Sec. 18: 66 SEC. 18. No officer or stockholder in a railroad company shall be eligible to a seat in the legislature, or any other office of public trust." Mr. DeLand called for the yeas and nays. The amendment was not agreed to, by yeas and nays, as follows: The question then recurring on concurring in the recommendation of the joint committee on railroads, Mr. Cook called for the yeas and nays. The same was concurred in, by yeas and nays, as follows: Mr. Prutzman, Mr. Isham, King, Art. XI. was referred to the committee on arrangement and phraseology. To the President of the Senate: SIR-I ask to be relieved from further service on the committee on phraseology and arrangement. On motion of Mr. Dewey, The request was granted. J. H. MCGOWAN. The President pro tem. announced the appointment of Senator Lewis as a member of the committee on arrangement and phraseology, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Senator McGowan. By unanimous consent, Mr. Clubb moved to take from the table the following resolution: WHEREAS, The financial condition of the country has caused stagnation in the agricultural, manufacturing, industrial, and productive occupations, whereby employment has become scarce and all branches of business injured causing unparalleled distress and privations among the people; and WHEREAS, The only basis of credit and financial prosperity, ability to pay national and individual liabilities, is well directed and successful industry, whereby wealth shall be increased and articles required by home and foreign trade shall be abundantly produced; and WHEREAS, The productive industries of the country cannot flourish without a sufficient amount of circulating currency, by which labor can be rewarded and trade maintained; therefore Be it resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That the Senators of Michigan be and are hereby instructed, and the Representatives requested, to use their influence and to vote in the Congress of the United States, in such manner as will give most speedy relief to the industrial interests of the country, by a liberal and judicious increase of United States currency; the making United States currency legal tender for custom duties; the establishment of a safe but free and unrestricted system of banking, and the adoption of such other measures as may be deemed best calculated to cause a more general distribution of currency throughout the country, available at fair and moderate rates of interest. Resolved, That the Governor be and he is hereby requested to cause a copy of these resolutions to be forwarded immediately to each of the Senators and Representatives of Michigan, now in the United States Congress. Mr. DeLand called for the yeas and nays. The motion did not prevail, by yeas and nays, as follows: Mr. Isham, King, Mellen, The Senate was called to order by the President pro tem. at 9 o'clock A. M. Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Taylor. Roll called: a quorum present. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES. By the committee on the judiciary: The committee on the judiciary, to whom was referred Joint resolution proposing amendments to Article VI. of the Constitution of the State of Michigan, relative to the Judicial Department, Respectfully report that they have had the same under consideration, and have directed me to report the same back to the Senate, with the accompanying amendments, and recommend that they be concurred in, and ask to be discharged from the further consideration of the subject. The committee recommend that the Senate concur in the following amendments: Amend Sec. 2, by inserting in the third line after the word "members," the words "to be chosen by the electors of the State." Amend Sec. 3 by striking out the comma in the seventh line, after the word "facias;" also, by striking out in the eleventh line, all after the word 66 court," to the end of the section. Amend Sec. 5 by striking out the two first lines of the section, and the three first words in the third line, before the word "appoint," and insert in lieu thereof, the following: "The Supreme Court shall, by general rules, except as otherwise provided by law, establish, modify, and amend the practice in such court, and in all inferior tribunals, and simplify the same, and shall.” The committee would report that the House judiciary committee agreed to the amendment made by the Senate to Sec. 7, by adding after the word "inhabitants," in third line, the words "and in counties having twenty thousand inhabitants or over, there shall be at least four terms" in each year. J. H. MCGOWAN, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Report accepted. |